Insulated building block handling tool

Abstract

A handling tool for insulated building blocks includes a pair of gripping surfaces that can be inserted within a recess of the block. A movable handle is attached through an actuator mechanism to the gripping surfaces for forceably moving the gripping surfaces apart to engage forcefully and in flushed contact with the end wall surfaces of the block. A guide is provided for substantially centering the gripping surfaces and handles within the block over the block weight and for positioning the gripping surfaces along the end walls to prevent damaging engagement between the gripping surfaces and the insulation layer within the block.

We claim: 
     
       1. A handling tool for an elongated insulated building block having a central opening of substantially rectangular cross section, including opposed longitudinal side wall surfaces joined by transverse end wall surfaces extending at least partially through the block, and having a layer of insulation within the opening along one of the longitudinal wall surfaces of the opening, the handling tool comprising: a tool handle;   a frame extending from the tool handle;   a pair of gripping members mounted to the frame for movement relative to one another and having elongated gripping surfaces thereon adapted for substantially flush engagement with the transverse end wall surfaces of the central opening of the insulated building block;   wherein the gripping surfaces each have a width dimension less than the distance within the block across the central opening between the layer of insulation and the longitudinal side wall surface opposite the layer of insulation such that the gripping surfaces may be inserted into the central opening of the insulated building block adjacent the transverse end wall surfaces thereof without engaging the layer of insulation;   actuator means on the frame and operatively connected to the gripping members for moving the gripping surfaces relative to one another from a first position wherein the gripping surfaces are spaced to enable insertion of the gripping surfaces into the central opening, to a second position wherein the gripping surfaces are spaced apart to forcibly engage the transverse end wall surfaces of the central opening; and   guide means on the frame for engaging the longitudinal wall surface of the central opening opposite the layer of insulation and for positioning the gripping surfaces along the transverse end wall surfaces of the central opening adjacent to the layer of insulation and spaced from the longitudinal side wall surface opposite the layer of insulation to substantially center the tool handle with respect to the center of gravity for the insulated building; and   wherein the gripping members are mounted to the frame for pivotal movement about substantially parallel pivot axes and the actuator means is comprised of manually operable toggle links interconnecting the gripping members at points thereon spaced from their pivot axes.   
     
     
       2. the handling tool of claim 1 wherein the pair of gripping members include top ends which are pivotable mounted to the frame on the substantially parallel pivot axes. 
     
     
       3. The handling tool of claim 1 wherein the actuator means further includes an actuator handle operatively connected to the toggle links and manually movable relative to the tool handle, for operating the toggle links to pivot the gripping surfaces between the first and second positions. 
     
     
       4. The handling tool of claim 3 wherein the gripping members are elongated and include upper and lower ends, and wherein the pivot axes for the gripping members are situated adjacent the upper gripping member ends and the toggle links are connected to the gripping members adjacent the lower gripping member ends. 
     
     
       5. The handling tool of claim 4 wherein the gripping surfaces are spaced apart at the upper ends of the gripping members by a distance approximately equal to the distance measured along the central opening of an insulated building block between the transverse end wall surfaces thereof. 
     
     
       6. The handling tool of claim 1 wherein the guide means is comprised of a plate mounted to the frame and having an outwardly facing inclined surface means for engaging the longitudinal side wall surface of the central opening opposite the layer of insulation and for guiding the gripping surfaces to lateral positions within the central opening adjacent to the layer of insulation. 
     
     
       7. The handling tool of claim 6 wherein the surfaces are pivoted on the frame about parallel pivot axes and wherein plate is situated between the pivot axes of the gripping members; and wherein the gripping members are elongated and include upper and lower ends, with the pivot axes situated adjacent the upper gripping member ends and wherein the actuator means is connected to the gripping members adjacent the lower gripping members ends. 
     
     
       8. The handling tool of claim 7 wherein the actuator means is comprised of: an actuator handle;   an actuator plunger mounting the actuator handle to the frame adjacent the tool handle; and   wherein the toggle links have first ends pivotably mounted to the plunger and second ends pivotably mounted to the gripping members.   
     
     
       9. The handling tool of claim 8 wherein the actuator handle is situated between the tool handle and upper ends of the gripping members; and wherein the toggle links are connected to the plunger and gripping members in such a manner that movement of the actuator handle toward the tool handle will result in corresponding motion of the gripping surfaces to the second positions thereof.   
     
     
       10. A handling tool for an insulated building block of the type having a central opening defined by opposed elongated longitudinal side walls and transverse end walls joining the longitudinal side walls, and with a layer of insulating material situated within the central opening against one of the longitudinal side walls and including an insulation wall facing the opposite longitudinal side wall of the central opening, the handling tool comprising: a tool handle;   gripping means operatively connected to the tool handle for insertion into the central opening and including gripping surfaces having width dimensions less than the distance across the central opening from the insulation wall to the opposite longitudinal side wall;   actuator means for selectively pressing the gripping surfaces against the transverse end walls of the central opening, and   guide means between the gripping surfaces for engaging the block upon insertion of the gripping surfaces into the block opening, to position the gripping surfaces adjacent the insulation wall and along the transverse end walls of the opening and   means for selectively adjusting the guide means to accommodate insulated building blocks having varied size opening widths between the opposite longitudinal side wall and the insulation wall thereof.   
     
     
       11. The handling tool of claim 10 wherein the guide means is comprised of a cam surface situated between the gripping surfaces and wherein the tool handle is positioned relative to the cam surface such that the cam surface will substantially center the tool handle in relation to the center of gravity of the block upon insertion of the gripping surfaces and cam surface into the central opening. 
     
     
       12. The handling tool of claim 11 further comprising a rigid frame mounting the tool handle and wherein at least one of the gripping surfaces is pivotably mounted to the frame on an axis and wherein the actuator means includes means for forcibly pivoting the at least one gripping surface from a first position wherein the at least one gripping surface is pivoted toward the remaining gripping surface to enable insertion of the gripping surfaces into the block central opening, to a second position wherein the at least one gripping surface is pivoted away from the remaining gripping surface to forcibly and frictionally engage an adjacent transverse end wall of the block central opening. 
     
     
       13. The handling tool of claim 10 further comprising a rigid frame mounting the tool handle and wherein at least one of the gripping surfaces is pivotably mounted to the frame on an axis and wherein the actuator means includes means for forcibly pivoting the at least one gripping surface from a first position wherein the at least one gripping surface is pivoted toward the remaining gripping surface to enable insertion of the gripping surfaces into the block central opening, to a second position wherein the at least one gripping surface is pivoted away from the remaining gripping surface to forcibly and frictionally engage an adjacent transverse end wall of the block central opening. 
     
     
       14. The handling tool of claim 13 wherein the gripping surfaces are planar and wherein the pivot axis for the at least one gripping surface is parallel to the planes of the gripping surfaces. 
     
     
       15. The handling tool of claim 14 wherein the gripping surfaces include upper and lower ends and wherein the pivot axis for the at least one gripping surface is situated adjacent to the upper end thereof and wherein a space between the gripping surfaces in a plane passing through the pivot axis and gripping surfaces is substantially equal to the distance between the transverse end walls in the block central opening. 
     
     
       16. A handling tool for an insulated building block of the type having a central opening defined by opposed first and second longitudinal side walls and transverse end walls joining the first and second longitudinal side walls, and with a layer of insulating material situated within the central opening against the first longitudinal side wall and including an insulation wall spaced from the first side wall and facing the second longitudinal side wall across the central opening, the handling tool comprising: a frame;   a handle on the frame;   gripping means on the frame for insertion into the central opening and including gripping surfaces having width dimensions less than the distance across the central opening from the insulation wall to the second longitudinal side wall;   actuator means operatively connected to the gripping means for selectively spreading the gripping surfaces relative to one another to press them against the transverse end walls of the central opening; and   guide means on the frame between the gripping surfaces for engaging the second longitudinal side wall and leaving the insulation wall untouched upon insertion of the gripping surface into the central opening for transversely positioning the gripping surfaces within the central opening between the insulation wall and the second longitudinal side wall.